Fuel prices drop again, this time by 5 cents per gallon

The average price per gallon for a diesel fuel dropped a nickel on Monday, Dec. 3, compared to the Monday before, according to the federal Energy Information Administration.

This is the sixth consecutive week of average price drops. Average prices dropped in every region. In Gulf Coast states, a 4.6 cent decrease pulled the average price below $3 per gallon. California’s average price for a gallon of diesel fuel is under $4 for the second week.

The Midwest saw the largest decrease 6.8 cents per gallon, according to the EIA.

The price is 28.5 cents higher than one year ago Monday.

Following are the average prices by region as reported by the EIA for Monday:

U.S. – $3.207, down 5.4 cents.

East Coast – $3.229, down 4.8 cents.

New England – $3.31, down 3.4 cents.

Central Atlantic – $3.394, down 5.3 cents.

Lower Atlantic – $3.098, down 4.7 cents.

Midwest – $3.117, down 6.8 cents.

Gulf Coast – $2.989, down 4.6 cents.

Rocky Mountain – $3.291, down 4.8 cents.

West Coast – $3.694, down 4.5 cents.

West Coast without California – $3.406, down 4.9 cents.

California – $3.922, down 4.2 cents.

ProMiles reports national average retail price for diesel on Monday, Dec. 3, being 4.5 cents lower than the week previous. Every region but one reported lower prices for diesel fuel, ranging from 2.2 cents per gallon in New England to 5.4 cents in the Midwest.

The U.S. average cost is 27 cents higher per gallon of diesel than one year ago.

ProMiles, the software company that maintains the websites ProMiles.com and TruckMiles.com, offers its own weekly fuel price information. The company’s fuel price data are presented in the same format used by the EIA in the agency’s weekly reports. The prices include a national average as well as regional averages, and comparisons to the previous week and the previous year.

A key difference between the EIA and ProMiles reporting is the type and number of fueling stations the company surveys in order to calculate its averages. While EIA surveys 400 truck stops and convenience stores nationwide, ProMiles uses its direct feed from thousands of truck stops to develop its averages.

The highest swing from a week ago was in Gulf Coast region, where the average price went down 2.4 cents. The smallest dip was in New England, where prices declined only one-tenth of a cent.

Following are the average prices by region as reported by the ProMiles.com:

U.S. – $3.145, down 4.5 cents.

East Coast – $3.217, down 4.1 cents.

New England – $3.305, down 2.2 cents.

Central Atlantic – $3.428, down 4.4 cents.

Lower Atlantic – $3.093, down 4 cents.

Midwest – $3.11, down 5.4 cents.

Gulf Coast – $2.994, down 3.8 cents.

Rocky Mountain – $3.302, down 2.9 cents.

West Coast – $3.354, down 3.6 cents.

West Coast less California – $3.354, down 3.6 cents.

California – $3.87, down 3.9 cents.

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.152 for Monday, Dec. 3

A week previous, the price was $3.199.

A month previous, AAA reported $3.273 per gallon and a year ago $2.84 per gallon.

The highest recorded average price for diesel was $4.845 per gallon on July 17, 2008, according to AAA.